Standard Disclaimer
FilmLA has gathered the location filming information in this article as a service to the entertainment industry. It is updated regularly, but also subject to change. FilmLA cannot and does not guarantee that the information contained here is at any time complete and without error. By using this site, you acknowledge these limitations and agree that neither FilmLA, nor its predecessors, successors, partners, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives shall be liable for any reason for damages of any nature (including special, incidental, compensatory, consequential or punitive) to any individual or entity who uses or relies on the information contained here for any purpose. Factual errors may be reported to FilmLA using the links provided at the bottom of the article.
Standard Requirements
Permit Requirement
A valid County permit is required to film on beach property within FilmLA's service area. FilmLA can assist you with permissions to film on all of the following beaches: Cabrillo, Dan Blocker/Corral Canyon, Dockweiler, Malibu Surfrider, Manhattan, Marina Del Rey, Mothers, Newport, Nicholas Canyon, Redondo, Royal Palm / White Point, Santa Monica Beach, Westward (Point Dume), Torrance, Topanga, Venice, Will Rogers, and Zuma.
Filming at these beaches will require a dual permit from FilmLA and the City of Malibu: Dan Blocker (Corral Canyon), Malibu Surfrider, Nicholas Canyon, Westward (Point Dume), and Zuma Beach.
Filming at these beaches require a dual permit from FilmLA and their respective city: Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance Beach.
FilmLA cannot assist with filming at state beaches, even if the beach is located within a city that FilmLA serves. Contact the California Film Commission or State Parks at 818.880.0358 for availability and permitting requirements for filming on state property.
Area Filming Requirements, LA County
Reservation Requirement
A valid reservation is required in order to obtain a permit to film at area beaches. The beach reservation can be made in advance, or applied for in conjunction with your film permit request in MyFilmLA. We recommend the advance approach to avoid conflicts with other planned activity.
You may fill out a Beach Reservation Request (you must specify the lifeguard tower numbers for the area you wish to film) and email it to reservations@filmla.com. This is the only way to put a beach on hold without submitting a permit application. You may put up to 3 beaches on hold for a total of 5 days per beach. Once you receive confirmation that we received your reservation and that there are no conflicts, you are free to submit your permit application via MyFilmLA.
Parking Requirement
In order to film at area beaches you must have place to park production vehicles and equipment. To reserve parking, complete the reservation process as described above, and provide the specific parking lot name or number and number of parking spaces desired. All L.A. County beach lots are managed through a private contractor, Modern Parking Inc. (MPI), who must be contacted at 310.821.1081 to obtain a parking contract.
Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors Parking Lots
County Beach Parking Guidelines
Overnight parking is generally allowed at most L.A. County beaches with approval from the Department of Beaches and Harbors, and a contract from Modern Parking Inc. No lifeguard hire is required if parking only.
For use of Santa Monica Beach parking lots, call Santa Monica Community and Cultural Services for availability at 310.458.8300.
Standard Filming Hours
Standard filming hours at L.A. County beaches are from 6am-10pm. Filming outside of standard hours may be permissible on a case-by-case basis, but will require a lifeguard hire at an 8 hour minimum. A Community Filming Survey may be required if filming will happen close to a residential area.
Activity Restrictions
Every L.A. County Beach has its own unique set of Special Filming Conditions. The following conditions of use generally apply:
Driving Shots: Driving shots are not permitted on L.A. County Beaches with the exception of Dockweiler Beach, Towers 59-60 during the Winter Season and only on a case-by-case basis. Stunt driving or high speed driving is not permitted.
Drone Use: Presently, drone activity is not allowed on any of the L.A. County Beaches.
Fires: Fires are generally allowed at most L.A. County Beaches as long as they are done as a special effect with an accompanying special effects permit from the L.A. County Fire Department. Wood burning fires are not allowed.
Water Activity: Water activity is generally permissible with a lifeguard hire (at a 4 hour minimum). For health reasons, L.A. County Beaches and Harbor does not allow water activity 72 hours after a rain. Water activity may not involve motorized watercraft within 900 feet of the shore.
Special Requirements
Coast Guard Supervision
U.S. Coast Guard - Movie Shoot Form
County Life Guard Supervision
Lifeguard supervision may be required as a condition of beach use. Supervision requirements vary based on the beach used, hours of filming, and filming activities.
Specific Beach Requirements
Fee Schedule
Common Fees, LA County
FilmLA Basic Fees List
Below are the most common fees assessed by this jurisdiction. Additional application, use, or personnel fees may apply based on location or scope of activity for this jurisdiction. Any fees not directly collected by FilmLA on behalf of the municipality through the film permit must be paid directly to the service provider. FilmLA makes every effort to publish the most up to date fees for these municipal service providers, however fees are subject to change at their discretion.
FilmLA Basic Fees List
| Fee Type | Rate | Per |
|---|---|---|
|
Permit Application Fee Up to 5 Locations, 7 Consecutive Days |
$931 | Permit |
|
Permit Rider Fee During Business Hours |
$148.75 | Rider |
|
Permit Rider Fee After Business Hours |
$208 | Rider |
|
Still Photo Application Fee* Cast/Crew of 16+ Requires Motion Rate |
$104 | Permit |
| Still Photo Rider Fee | $31 | Rider |
| Student Permit Fee (simple) | $52 | Permit |
| Student Permit Fee (complex) | $134 | Permit |
| Non-Profit (PSA) Permit App Fee | $73 | Permit |
| Non-Profit (PSA) Permit Rider Fee | $36 | Permit |
|
Notification Fee Base Radius |
$232 | Radius |
| Lane Closure Administration Fee | $78 | Involved Location |
| Gunfire Administration Fee | $78 | Involved Location |
| Special FX - Explosion & Smoke Administration Fee | $78 | Involved Location |
| Drone Administration Fee | $78 | Involved Location |
| Helicopter Administration Fee | $78 | Involved Location |
|
FilmLA Monitor Fee** Minimum Applies. Subject to OT and DT. Standard Arrival: 1 Hour Prior to Permit Start Time. |
$44.50 | Hour |
* Still photo productions with a cast / crew size of 16 or more people will incur the Motion application fee. Any B-roll or motion filming in conjunction with a still photo shoot will also incur the Motion rate. Additionally, for crews of this size or larger, a LAFD Spot Check Surcharge will also be assessed.
** The FilmLA monitor service is charged in hourly increments based on time at location. For example, if monitor service is required from 6am-10pm, the breakdown of service hours would be 8 Regular hours, 4 overtime hours, and 4 double time hours to cover the service, whether completed by one or multiple monitors.
Common Fees, LA County
| Fee Type | Rate | Per |
|---|---|---|
| LA County Fire - Filming Review Fee | $343.30 | Permit |
|
LA County Fire - Still Photography Review Fee For Shoots Involving 16+ People |
$277.00 | Permit |
| LA County Fire - Special Effects Permit Fee | $350 | Involved Location |
|
LA County Fire Safety Advisor (FSA) Paid directly to provider and not collected by FilmLA. |
$63.51 | Hour (4hr minimum, OT/DT Applies) |
|
LA County Fire Safety Officer (FSO) Paid directly to provider and not collected by FilmLA. |
$201.82 | Hour (4hr minimum, Flat Rate: No OT/DT) |
| LA County Roads - Inspection Fee (Use) | $468 | Day |
| LA County Roads - Encroachment Permit Processing Fee | $387 | Area |
| LA County Roads - Application Fee (Issuance) | $214 | Involved Location |
| LA County Beaches - Filming Use Fee | $400 | Day |
|
LA County Beaches - Still Photography Use Fee For Shoots Involving 1-15 People |
$100 | Day |
|
LA County Beaches - Prep / Strike Fee Basic Rate, Applies to First 3 Days of Activity |
$100 | Day |
|
LA County Beaches - Prep / Strike Fee - Extended Applies to Beginning 4th Day of Activity |
$400 | Day |
|
LA County Lifeguards Paid directly to provider and not collected by FilmLA. |
$230 | Hour (4hr min. if beach open, 8hr min. if beach closed) |
| LA County Parks - Filming Use Fee | $400 | Day |
| LA County Parks - Still Photography Use Fee | $100 | Day |
|
LA County Parks - Prep / Strike Fee Basic Rate, Applies to First 3 Days of Activity |
$100 | Day |
|
LA County Parks - Prep / Strike Fee - Extended Applies to Beginning 4th Day of Activity |
$400 | Day |
| LA County Building / Facility Filming Use Fee | $400 | Day |
|
LA County Building / Facility Still Photography Use Fee For Shoots Involving 1-15 People |
$100 | Day |
|
LA County Building / Facility Prep / Strike Fee Basic Rate, Applies to First 3 Days of Activity |
$100 | Day |
|
LA County Building / Facility Prep / Strike Fee - Extended Applies to Beginning 4th Day of Activity |
$400 | Day |
| LA County Flood Control Permit Issuance Fee | $174 | Permit |
|
LA County Flood Control Use Fee Applies to All Prep, Strike, Still Photo & Filming Days |
$1,181 | Day |
|
LA County Sheriff Officer Paid directly to provider and not collected by FilmLA. |
$95.11 | Hour (6hr min, Flat Rate, + Mileage @ $1.22 per mile) |
|
California Highway Patrol Officer Paid directly to provider and not collected by FilmLA. |
$105.91 | Hour (4hr min, Flat Rate, + Mileage @ $1.45 per mile) |
Community Relations
Community Filming Surveys
The County of Los Angeles may require a Community Filming Survey, designed to demonstrate that affected residents/businesses have been individually contacted and to solicit individual concerns (if any) regarding the requested activity. FilmLA will provide a survey form, guidelines, sample letter, and a sample map, but the production company is responsible for surveying affected residents and businesses.